Non-Vegetarian Additives

Print out the following and keep it with your shopping list!Numbers with a *means that the additive is definitely of animal origin.All other numbers are sometimes and therefore possibly from animal origin.

E Number

Additive Name

* 120

Cochineal, Carminic acid, Carmines Natural Red 4 – colouringA colouring that makes many foods red. Found in alcoholic drinks, fruit pie fillings, jams, many sweets and even cheeses. Cochineal is made from the female insect found on cacti called Dactylopius Coccus. She is boiled alive or left to “cook” alive through sun exposure. Cochineal is the result of crushing scales of the insect into a red powder.

153

Carbon Black, Vegetable Carbons – colouringIf the description on product packaging says “Vegetable Carbons”, then it is most likely free of animal derivatives. (but could be derived from GM crops!) But if the additive is described as “Carbon Black”, it ‘s more likely to be derived from various parts of animals.

161g

Canthaxanthin (Natural Orange Colour Xanthophylls) – colouring.Be aware that although Canthaxanthin is usually derived from plant material, it can sometimes be made from fish and invertebrates with hard shells.

252

Potassium Nitrate (Saltpetre) – Preservative Saltpetre is usually assumed to be of natural origins but it can be artificially manufactured from waste animal matter. Potassium nitrate is often found in smoked type cheeses – so even if the cheese contains vegetable rennet and not animal rennet, it may contain potassium nitrate made from animal waste, so check with the cheese manufacturer to determine the source of the potassium nitrate.

270

Lactic Acid – AntioxidantCan be obtained from whey so Vegan’s should determine the source of the ingredient by contacting manufacturers. Lactic Acid can be found in carbonated drinks, beer, dressings and various tinned products.

322

Lecithins – Emulsifier and StabilizerSome Lecithin contains egg yolks so not suitable for Vegans. Other main sources of Lecithin are from soya bean oil and is likely to be genetically modified (if sourced from countries such as the US) Lecithin can also be directly obtained from animal fat.

Glycerol (Humectant, Solvent, Sweet Glycerin) – SweetenerThere is contention surrounding the origins of Glycerol. Through various industrial reselling practices, a majority of glycerine originates as a by-product of soap manufacturing. Many soaps are manufactured using animal fats. This indicates that even though glycerine occurs naturally in plants, what ends up in food and soap products mostly originates from animals.

Gelatine – Emulsifier / Gelling Agent You may not find this E number 441 on food ingredients listings anymore because instead of an additive, Gelatine has now been classed as food (made of animal skin and hoofs) in it’s own right. Remember, all types of gelatine are animal based and can be found in dairy products like yoghurts, plus many kinds of confectionery, jellies and other sweets.

E472 A to F are emulsifiers related to the mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids family:E472a Acetic acid estersE472b Lactic acid estersE472c Citric acid estersE472d Tartaric acid estersE472e Mono- and diacetyl tartaric acid estersE472f Mixed acetic and tartaric acid estersBecause the E472 family is derived from Glycerine (Glycerol) (see E422 above), there may be a slim chance that any of these might contain animal fats.

473

Sucrose esters of fatty acids – EmulsifierE473 is a sucrose ester of E471, being fatty acids, which may be derived from animals.

474

Sucroglyceride – EmulsifierE474 is a glyceride of sucrose ester of E471, being fatty acids, which may be derived from animals.

475

Polyglycerol esters of fatty acids – Emulsifier Being an ester of fatty acids which may be derived from animals.

476

Polyglycerol Polyricinoleate – Emulsifier As this is produced from glycol esters the glycerol can be sourced from a by-product of animal fats in the manufacturing of soap.

477

Propane-1, 2-diol esters of fatty acids, propylene glycol esters of fatty acids – EmulsifierThe glycol esters of fatty acids can be sourced from a by-product of animal fats in the manufacturing of soap.

Sorbitan monostearate – Emulsifier and StabilizerFrom stearic acid and is used in dried yeast. Stearic acid is found in vegetable and animal fats, but commercial production is usually synthetic. See also 570

492

Sorbitan Tristearate – EmulsifierSee 491

493

Sorbitan Monolaurate – EmulsifierSee 491

494

Sorbitan Monooleate – EmulsifierSee 491

495

Sorbitan Monopalmitate – EmulsifierSee 491

* 542

Bone phosphate – Anti-caking agent

570

Stearic Acid Fatty Acid – Anti-caking agentStearic acid is found in vegetable and animal fats, but commercial production is usually synthetic. Often used in dried yeast.

Ferrous lactate – ColouringA lactate is a compound formed when a mineral is bound to lactic acid. This is why additives named as a lactate may have been derived from an animal source such as whey. (see 270)

Glycine and its sodium salt – Flavour enhancerCan sometimes be prepared from gelatine.

901

Beeswax – white and yellow – Glazing AgentNot suitable for Vegans.

904

Shellac – Glazing AgentShellac is a resin secreted by an insect called the lac bug Laccifer lacca Kerr (Coccidae) . It is often unclear as to whether the insect is killed in the process of commercially obtaining shellac as the resin is left by the insect on various plants. Whether this resin is harvested as a residue or extracted by directly killing the insects needs further investigation.

910

L-cysteine – Improving agentProduced commercially from animal and human hair (and feathers). When produced from animal hair it is almost certain that all L-cysteine is taken from slaughtered animals. When human hair is used it is often sourced from women in third-world countries. L-cysteine is used as an additive in around 5% of bread and other bakery products. It is not used in wholemeal bread or other wholemeal bakery products.

Even though a list of additives may be present on a food or beauty product, it can be almost impossible to determine if the additive has been derived from an animal or vegetable source. This is because an additive with the same name can be made using different source materials.If a food or beauty product is not clearly labelled call the store manager and ask questions!They need to realize how confusing food labelling really is!